Local News in Brief : Orange : El Toro Man Charged With Tax Evasion

A county businessman evaded almost $486,000 in taxes in three years by skimming profits from Data Circuits Inc. of Orange and another firm he controlled, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles charged Thursday.

Huey P. Savage, 49, of El Toro, controlling shareholder of Data Circuits, was charged with conspiracy and tax evasion. Savage is president of Data Circuits, a privately held firm that manufactures printed circuit boards for sale to the electronics industry. Neither he nor his lawyer could be reached for comment, and a spokesman for the firm declined to comment.

For 1981-83, Savage is accused of reporting negative personal income and paid no tax. Grand jurors allege that he in fact had taxable income of $656,000 in 1981, $328,000 in 1982 and $63,000 in 1983. Prosecutors said Savage evaded $485,611 in taxes during that period.

Corporate accountant Melvin L. Walter, who prosecutors said had once lived in San Clemente, was charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting the scheme. A third defendant, Lewis Thorsen of Yorba Linda, pleaded guilty April 11 to aiding and abetting Savage in the scheme. Thorsen has not been sentenced.